Letter-box.



No. 680,|57. Patented Aug. 6, [90L A. M. KEENEY.

LETTER BOX.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1901 1 (No Model.)

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I I I I I vAfiorgzys .ing mail of individual houses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALANSON M. KEENEY, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CENTURY POST 00., OF SAME PLACE.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 680,157, dated August 6, 1901. Application filed March 14, 1901- Serial No. 51.115. (No model.)

Letter-Box, of which the following is a speci fication.

p This invention relates to letter-boxes, and has for its object to provide an improved box of this character which is especially designed for ruraldelivery systems and adapted for containing the delivered mail and the outgo- It is, fu rthermore, designed to arrange the box for convenience in removing the mail therefrom and to render the same weather-proof, so as to prevent damage to the mail by rain, snow, and

the like, and, finally, to provide for indicating that the box contains mail-matter and for controlling such indicating means by the lid or cover of the box.

With this and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a letter-box embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a vertical detail sectional view taken longitudinally through one end of the hinged connection of the lid or cover. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one end of the hinged portion of the lid.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the body of the box is substantially semicylindrical in shape and consists of the opposite segmental cast-iron end pieces 1 and 2 and the sheet-metal body-piece 3, which is bent to fit the curved marginal edges of the end pieces or heads. Each end piece has its upper edge made flat and inclined downwardly and forwardly, as indicated at at in Fig. 2 of the drawings, while the sheet-metal body-piece terminates at the opposite ends of the flat top edges of the end pieces in the respective front and rear stiffening-beads 5 and 6, thereby forming rounded edges for the top of the box. For convenience in connecting the sheet-metal body and the end pieces each of the latter is provided with an inner laterally-projected marginal flange 7, which is located slightly inwardly from the convex edge of the end piece and extending for the entire length thereof, the ends of the body being placed against the outer sides of the respective flanges and abutted against the end pieces at the outer sides of the flanges, there being suitable fastenings S piercing the body and the respective flanges, whereby the marginal rims 10, produced by the flanges, form weather-strips, covering the joints at the ends of the body, so as to effectually exclude driving snow, rain, and the like.

The lid or cover 11 is formed from a single fiat sheet of metal, provided With the pendent front and end marginal flanges 12 and 13 to overlap the exterior of the body and the end pieces, and thereby exclude foreign matter from the interior of the box. For the convenient hinging of the lid'the back bead 6 of the box is in the form of a loose coil, and the back edge of the lid is also bent into a corresponding loose coil 14, the folds of which are received in the corresponding spaces or intervals between the folds of thecoil on the box. It will be understood that these coils do not snugly bind upon each other, but are sufficiently loose to permit of the lid being moved upon the pivotal or hinged connection formed by the two coils. As indicated at 15 in Fig. 2, it will be seen thatthe terminal edge of the coiled part of the box is bent laterally out of the continuation of the coil, so as to form a stop-shoulder, against which the terminal edge of the lid-coil is designedto strike, and thereby limit the opening of the lid, so as to prevent the same from being thrown over against the back of the box.

The end flanges of the lid extend across the respective ends of the inner coiled portions of the box and the lid, so as to effectuallyexclude foreign matter.

For indicating that the box contains mailmatter there is provided a signal 18, of suitable size and shape, carried at the upper free end of a signal-arm 19, that is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon a lateral stud or projection 20,extending laterally outward from' one end of the box and adjacent to the lower front edge thereof. Surrounding this pivot-stud and formed'integrally with the end piece is a concentric flange 21, over the outer edge of which the signal-arm frictionallytravels, there being opposite stop-shoulders 22 and 23 for engagement by the arm to limit the swing thereof in opposite directions. its upright position to display the signal, as

-shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the lower end portion of the arm lies in contact with the lower shoulder 22, and when the signal is not displayed the opposite portion of the arm is in contact with the shoulder 23, Whereby the arm is supported in a substantially horizontal position.

The signal-arm is supported in its vertical position by means of the lid or cover of the box, which has a stud or projection 24 extending laterally outward from the adjacent end flange 13 and immediately in advance of the bearing-ear 17, so as to rise over the latter when the lid is raised or opened. This stud lies between the arm and the ear, as

shown in Fig. 1, so as to lie in contact with the rear edge or lower edge of the signal-arm,

thereby holding the opposite end thereof against the lower stop-shoulder of the friction-flange 21, whereby the signal-arm is held fixed in a substantially vertical position. At

the point where the stud 2t engages the sigv thereby bringing the stud into engagement with'the rear side of the signal-arm to support the same.

In order that the delivered mail may be maintained separate from the outgoing mail, there is provided a mail-holder consisting of a pair of longitudinal rods 26, located within the back portion of the box and having their ends supported by the respective ends of the box. These rods are also locatednear the upper open side of. the box and are arranged one above the other, so as to form a rack, whereby the letters are designed to be thrust between the rods and the back of the box.

The transversely-bowed shape of the bottom of the box is an important feature, as it When the arm is in yenient'and effective manner.

obviates angular corners within the interior of" the boxand permitsof'tlie mail-matter being scooped up with a gloved or mittened hand, thereby greatly facilitating the removal of the mail from the box.

For the support of the box there is provided a yoke-shaped bracket consisting of the of the box, there being a pair of opposite shoulders 31 arranged between the stud and the back edge of the end piece and designed to lie in contact with the top and bottom edges of the arm and form a seat for the snug reception thereof, whereby the bracket is fixedly and detachably connected to the box.

spaced at a suitable interval and are connected by a bolt or suitable detachable fastening 32. The arms 29 are designed to embrace a reduced head portion 33 of a suitable post or support 34, so that the fastening may pass through the reduced head portion or top projection and the arms may lie upon the top of the post, so as to support the box in a con- The supporting-bracket is arranged to support the box so that its lid or cover is inclined downwardly and forwardly for the purpose of completely The lid may also be hinged in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the bead 14 snugly embraces a stiffening-rod 15, each end of which projects beyond the respective ends of the head to form respective pivot-pins or journals 16. Each pivot pin is pivotally mounted in a perforate car 17, rising from the adjacent end of the box and ofiset laterally therefrom, so as to receive the end flange 13 between the ear and the end of the box, said flange being provided with a perforation for the reception of the pivot-pin, as the flange covers the end of the bead to exclude foreign matter from the box.

What is claimed is i 1. A letter-box, having a hinged lid or cover, a signal device mounted upon one end of the fixed body of the box and constructed to swing transversely across the same and independently of the movement of the lid, and a detachable supporting connection between the signal device and the lid or cover when the former is in its displayed position.

2. A letter-box,having a hinged lid or cover, a signal device pivotally mounted upon one end of the fixed body of the box and mounted to swing transversely across the same and in- 'The inner arms of the bracket members are i dependently of the movement of the lid, the lid having a signal-engaging device which lies in supporting engagement with the signal when the latter is in its displayed position and the lid is closed.

3. Aletter-box, having a hinged lid or cover provided with a laterally outwardly projected stud at one end thereof, and a signal pivotally mounted upon that end of the fixed body of the box which is next to the stud and arranged to swing vertically across the said end of the box and independently of the movement of the lid, the stud being located in supporting engagement with one side of the signal when the latter is in its displayed position and the lid is closed. 7

4. A letter-box, havingahinged lid or cover, a signal pivotally mounted upon one end of the fixed body of the box and arranged to swing vertically and transversely across the box and independently of the movement of the lid, opposite signal-engaging stop-shoulders provided upon the said end of the box, and a detachable supporting engagement between the lid and the signal when the latter is displayed and the former is closed.

5. Aletter-box, having a hinged lid or cover, a pivot-stud projecting laterally outward from one end of the box, a concentric flange surrounding the pivot-pin, and provided with opposite stop-shoulders, and a signal pivotally mounted upon the stud intermediate of its ends, whereby the signal travels in frictional engagement with the flange, and the shoulders are arranged to support the signal at its opposite limits, and a detachable supporting connection between the lid and the signal when the latter is displayed and the former is closed.

6. A letter-box, havinga hinged lid or cover, a lateral stud projected outwardly from one end of the lid, a vertically-swinging signalarm pivotally mounted upon the end of the box which is next to the stud on the cover, and arranged to swing transversely across said end of the box, opposite stop-shoulders carried by said end of the box and arranged at the opposite limits of the signal-arm, a signal carried at the free end of the arm, and

a lateral shoulder upon the intermediate por- 5 0 end thereof and adjacent to the hinged edge of the lid, and a signal, having an arm which is pivotally mounted upon that end of the box which is next to the stud of the lid, the free end portion of the arm being offset laterally outward from the box and adjacent to the outer free end of the arm to form a lateral shoulder, which lies against the front side of the stud when the signal is displayed and the lid is closed.

, 8. A letter-box, comprising opposite end pieces, each of which has an inner marginal flange providing an outer marginal rim, a body having its end portions embracing the respective flanges and abutted against the rims of the end pieces, a lid or cover having a front and opposite end pendent flanges embracing the body, the rear longitudinal edge of the cover being formed into a bead or sleeve, the end flanges of the lid being extended, a pivotal connection between the bead or sleeve of the cover and the body of the box.

9. A letter-box, having corresponding outwardly-projecting studs at opposite ends thereof, and a pair of shoulders in rear of each stud, and a supporting yoke shaped bracket which embraces the back and ends of the box, the opposite sides of the bracket being seated snugly between the respective pairs of shoulders, and their terminals having perforations receiving the respective studs, the intermediate portion of the bracket having a clamp for application to a support.

In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALANSON M. KEENEY.

W'itnesses:

C. E. DOYLE, F. S. APPLEMAN. 

